Phillies Surprisingly Named No. 1 Suitor for Top Trade Deadline Slugger
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The trade deadline is fast approaching, and the Philadelphia Phillies are still waiting to get in on the action.
In a high-pressure season, the Phillies have mostly played good baseball. But you'd be hard pressed to call them the favorites in the National League right now, and several other contenders have already made moves.
The top needs many have identified for the Phillies throughout the summer have been center field and bullpen. But with Alec Bohm on the injured list, third base has emerged late in the game as a sneaky spot to upgrade.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with third base coach Shaun Larkin #88 after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning...
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with third base coach Shaun Larkin #88 after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Chase Field on July 20, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. MoreThere's only one third baseman worth pursuing for the Phillies: Arizona Diamondbacks impending free agent slugger Eugenio Suárez. Competition will be stiff, though, if the Phillies want in on the action.
However, on Sunday, Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com labeled the Phillies as the No. 1 prospective suitor for Suárez, purely in terms of need.
"Why are the Phillies atop this list? Because when you look at the way this roster is constructed, arguably no team is under more pressure to win now than Philadelphia," wrote Harrigan. "The Phillies got close with a World Series appearance in 2022, but they've taken a step back since then. Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and Aaron Nola are all signed beyond 2025, but each is 32 or older. So are Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, both of whom are in the final year of their contracts."
Harrigan listed six other teams as fits: in descending order, the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros.
With only four days to go before the Thursday deadline, we'll soon know if the Phillies want Suárez as badly as many now seem to think they should.
More MLB: Dodgers' Trade Deadline Plan for Dustin May Revealed by MLB Insider
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Los Angeles Times
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